"A guilty man set free on the account of another, is that justice? No that’s grace" Caleb & Sol

28 September 2014

DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT

John 15:18-25

The
late great Leonard Ravenhill said “Why Do we expect to be
better treated in this world than Jesus was.” What
did the Romans & Jews do to Jesus? A better question might be asked this morning! What did we do to Jesus? According
to the Bible!

He was spit and slapped repeatedly in the face.

He was blindfolded and was repeatedly punched by
multiple people.

His clothing was torn and removed from His body and it
was sold amongst themselves.

He was made to stand there almost naked in front of a
captive crowd of on-lookers.

His back and front was brutally beaten and whipped to
the point of death due to shock of pain and agony.

He was ridiculed dressed like a king as He carried His
cross up to Calvary, which is outside the camp.

He’s hands and feet had long spikes put through his
skin into the wood to hold His body in a position that would cause His lungs to
fill up with fluid as He hangs there and dies a slow sinner’s death on a cross.

According
to Isaiah some 700 years before Christ came, penned these prophetic words. “As many were astonished at you His appearance was so marred[disfigured] beyond human semblance, and his form
beyond that of the children of mankind” Isaiah 52:14. Never was any man's face more disfigured, or his form
more altered, than his was. As
John Calvin said“Christ was disfigured among men, or that
his beauty was defaced by the perverse judgment of men.” All this suffering because mankind’s hatred towards
Jesus Christ and who He claimed to be. There hostility demonstrated their true heart of the
Jews. Hey hated Him through His words and actions, because
it revealed to the Jews how sinful they truly were. This is a picture of the hostile world system then and
today. This is a picture of us…..this is a picture of our
culture and world system today. This
response by the Jews reminded of a missionary who was approached by an African
Chief, in this case a woman. “And Hanging outside the missionary’s cabin, on a
tree, was a little mirror. The chief happened to look into the mirror and her
reflection, with its hideous paint and evil features. She gazed at her own
terrifying countenance and jumped back in horror exclaiming, “Who is that
horrible-looking person inside the tree?” “Oh,” the missionary said, “it is not
in the tree. The glass is a reflecting your own face." The African would not believe it until she held the
mirror in her hand. She said “I must have the glass. How much will you sell it
for?” “Oh” the missionary said, “I don’t want to sell it.” But she begged until
the missionary caved! She took the mirror. Exclaiming, “I will never have it
making faces at me again,” so she threw it down and broke it to pieces.

This is what the Jews did with Jesus. This is what you did before salvation. For those of you here who don’t have a relationship
with Christ? This is what you’re doing every day and you don’t even
know it, because your sin has blinded your eyes to see truth and the reality of
your desperate need to be saved. Jesus
suffered and died physically because people don’t want to hear the truth and
they hate it when you expose their sins. There is something that many in the church that “don’t”
or “won’t” talk about among the fellowship of brother and sisters. It’s a fact and a known truth today, that we too could
face persecution like Jesus did in the year 2014. But
this shouldn't surprise us! Should it? According to Jesus as we open John’s letter. He continues His conversation with His disciples as he
prepares them for the coming days and future with this statement found in (v18-v20) “If the world hates you, know that it has
hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love
you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of
the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you:
'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will
also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” And sadly, we expect this world to get along with you
and me! Jesus
has for the past few hours or chapters for us telling His disciples what? He has been telling them and demonstrating His love
for them by washing their nasty stinky feet. Telling them not to worry or be troubled about His
departure and what is before them. He gently reminds them that apart from Him we can do
nothing, or endure nothing if we are not attached to the Vine. He tells us we’re to love and willing lay down our
lives for the branches, because He did that for us. Again
what did Jesus say“Greater love has no
one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”(v13)

THE WORLD REJECTS CHRISTIANS FOR THE REASON WE’RE NO LONGER
IDENTIFIED WITH THE WORLD. (V19)

The world’s love is also conditional. If you want to
be “loved” by the world, you need to do what the world does. This means that the only way we will ever be accepted
is if we follow after this worlds system and stop this foolish game called
religion. In the spiritual realm, if you follow Jesus Christ,
you will be hated. That’s right: HATED! Whether you like it or not, the
Bible is clear that Christians will be hated and rejected by the world.

This
world wants to……Ridicule, mock, slander, misrepresent, remove our
rights, call us bigots and narrowed minded, intolerant, haters. Their desire is to destroy us and anyone who claims to
be a follower of Jesus Christ, so don’t be surprised when this happens to you at school, at work, in the home and around the community. See
history is destined to repeat itself, if people will not stop to listen or
change their ways as their forefathers did. They hated Christ way before they hated you, so don’t
be surprise when we get treated the same way as Jesus did when He walked
amongst the people. As
Paul said in 2Tim 3:12 “Indeed,
all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” And
we need to be careful!
Persecution doesn’t just come in physical harm as we have seen in the Middle
East or Asia. That is one form of persecution and it breaks my
heart, but there are other subtle ways as well this world is trying to destroy
you. See,
the world wants you to fall and fail.

They want us gossip about others

Have bad marriages that lead to divorce

Fight and argue and never reconcile.

Say bad words

View inappropriate images

Have pre-marital relations

Fall to peer-pressure

Live promiscuously and free to explore other sinful
behaviour

They want us to like the things they like

They want us to dress, talk and act like the world

They want us to leave the God we love, for the things
of this world.

See,
the world wants to watch Christians waver and sin. When we participate in their behavior, it makes them
feel better about their own sinful lifestyles. So
which is better? To fit in
and be liked? Or to know that the God of all creation loves you and me? As
one writer said “Jesus
insists that He chose us out of the world for the purpose of salvation and
service. It’s better to be loved than liked.”

THE WORLD REJECTS CHRISTIANS BECAUSE OUR IDENTITY IS HIDDEN IN CHRIST.
(V20)

Our lives are hidden in Christ and this is a problem
for the world today. As followers of Jesus, we can’t expect to have an
easier time than He did. As
the Apostle Paul says, we will smell either as the aroma of death or life. In
2 Cor 2:14-16 we read “Now
thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us
diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the
fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are
perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the
other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these
things?” If the disciples were looking for gratitude, kindness
and praises from men they would be painfully disappointed after this statement
by Jesus. See, this thinking according to Jesus would be false
and not to be expected! They hated Jesus, what do you think they will do with
us? Jesus was and is perfect and sinless, where we’re
sinners, who are no better than anyone else. So for people to accept our message [the Bible and the
gospel] and accept us is insane! We’re living on hostile ground according to this world
system and Jesus. But
understand this! Not everyone hates Christians! But a good majority
hate anything that involves the bible and the gospel. But
I personally believe and you can disagree with me if you like! But this is one of the major problems with the North
American church. We try so hard to fit in and have people accept us,
instead of winning then with the full the truth found in the Word of God and
the gospel. We want to be relevant and contemporary with good
morals and we forget the reason we are breathing at this moment! It’s all because of Christ and what He did and faced
on the cross for you and me! And this is where our identity is. As
John MacArthur said “the
reason why more Christians are not persecuted is simply because so few are
truly godly, ….and it’s easy to be distinguished in the eyes of the world if we
compromise godly living.” As
the Apostle Paul reminded the church “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I
who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal
2:20. This should be the anthem of our lives every day. To know that Jesus called me and chose me to be His
child for the glory of His name. What can man do to me when we have this heavenly
promise? According
to Jesus, nothing…absolutely nothing! “And do not fear those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in
hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to
the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are
of more value than many sparrows. So
everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my
Father who is in heaven,” Matt
10:28-32

THE WORLD REJECTS CHRISTIANS FOR THE REASON THEY ARE IGNORANT OF
GOD. (V21)

This world system is doing what they deem right in
their own eyes, and they think they know what’s best for everyone
else…including me and you. This goes all the way back during the period of the
Judges. On
own hand you have Joshua saying Jos 24:15 And if it is
evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the
gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we
will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15. And
then we see the people turn so quickly to ignorance. In Judges 21:25 we read “In those days there was no king in
Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” We see this in religious circles. There is a huge difference between knowing about God
and knowing God. Persecution because of their ignorance and hatred
towards God…it’s not you! It’s all about Him so don’t take persecution
personal. This was to be expected……..JESUS SAID SO. Jesus
goes on to say about their ignorance in the next few verses. (v22-v23). Jesus argues that the world is guilty because they
have rejected His words. Jesus
said “If I had
not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no
excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also.” Jesus isn’t saying that men and women would have been
innocent if He had not come or spoken to them. The world was already sinful and rebellious before He
came as a baby in a manger. Christ’s coming highlighted sin in human hearts; He
pointed it out so people had less grounds to claim ignorance. Therefore, to reject Christ and His words brings
greater condemnation. That’s why it’s worse for those who have tasted the
truth and do nothing with it. That’s why Jesus said He will have more mercy over
Sodom and Gomorrah then those who heard the truth of the gospel and do nothing
with it. Ignorance is not bliss and it doesn’t lead to Heaven! It leads to death and forever torment…..that’s the road the world system is on during the time of Jesus and they’re still on it today around the globe.

The
question for us to answer is who do we wanted be accepted by?The world where they will leave you alone? Or a Holy God who loves you and says you will be hated
[you can count on that]for following after Him? In ancient Rome, crowds by the tens of thousands would
gather in the Colosseum to watch as Christians were torn apart by wild animals. “A man named Paul
Rader, commenting on his visit to this famous landmark, said, "I stood
uncovered to the heavens above, where He sits for whom they gladly died, and
asked myself, 'Would I, could I, die for Him tonight to get this gospel to the
ends of the earth?'" Rader continued, "I prayed most fervently in
that Roman arena for the spirit of a martyr, and for the working of the Holy
Spirit in my heart, as He worked in Paul's heart when He brought him on his
handcuffed way to Rome." Those early Christians "lived on the
threshold of heaven, within a heartbeat of home, no possessions to hold them
back." Can
that be said of us? Or is our possession, or acceptance holding us back because
we want the world more than Jesus to
like us. “Jesus insists
that He chose us out of the world for the purpose of salvation and service.
It’s better to be loved than liked.”

1 comment:

Thank you pastor Mike for directing my mind off myself and on to the Lord Jesus Christ. The opening description of your sermon on the suffering that our Lord endured brought me to my knees. My heart is filled with gratitude for His love for me and His obedience. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" What would happen to our churches if more people reflected on Isaiah 53? I am a friend of God. How wonderful is that. Nothing else matters. Shelley and I have experienced persecution for the cause of Christ many times. We have lost friendships, threatened loss of employment, had the police called on us, been told we are no longer welcome on school property, some have been convicted because of a religious sign I have on display on my former property that they felt the need to vandelize it. and on and on...all because we live for Christ Like Paul I say "To live is Christ, to die is gain" MacArthur's words are very bold when you quote him saying "the reason why more Christians are not persecuted is simply because so few are truly godly" OUCH!

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"Radical obediance to Christ is not easy; it is dangerous. It is not smooth sailing aboard a luxury liner; it is sacrificial duty aboard a troop carrier. It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obediance to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. and He is more than enough for us." David Platt

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2 Timothy 2:8-14"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us toa holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.Follow the pattern of the soundwords that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."ESV

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John MacArthur says . . . " There seems almost no limit to what modern church leaders will do to entice people who aren't interested in worship and preaching. Too many have bought the notion that the church must win people by offering an alternative form of entertainment. Just how far will the church go in competing with Hollywood? A large church in the southwestern United States has installed a half-million dollar special-effects system that can produce smoke, fire, sparks, and laser lights in the auditorium. The church sent staff members to study live special effects at Bally's Casino in Las Vegas. The pastor ended one service by ascending to "heaven" via invisible wires that drew him up out of sight while the choir and orchestra added a musical accompaniment to the smoke, fire, and light show. It was just a typical Sunday show for that pastor: "He packs his church with such special effects as ... cranking up a chain saw and toppling a tree to make a point ... the biggest Fourth of July fireworks display in town and a Christmas service with a rented elephant, kangaroo and zebra. The Christmas show features 100 clowns with gifts for the congregation's children."Shenanigans like that would have been the stuff of Spurgeon's worst nightmares. And even Tozer could not have foreseen the extreme to which evangelicals would go in paying homage to the great god Entertainment. "

What does it mean to live a cross centered life?by Pastor Mike AndrewsWe as Christians know that there is only one road to take. The Bible say's "wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it" (Matt 7:13). Why is there so many people who profess Jesus Christ taking this road? (Phil 3:19) "Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things". The Bible say's the wide road leads to destruction. Which means eternally separated from a HOLY and Sovereign GOD. There is ony one road for GENUINE Christian. And it's the narrow road. A life that is: 1) Self denial2) Caring your cross daily3) Desiring the things of God4) Hating the things that God hates5) Submission and obedience6) Holy living7) Expects any kind of persecution.(Mat 10:22) and you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved(1 John 3:13) Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.A.W. Tozer says "The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!" (1Pet 4:16-17) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?We must stand strong in the Gospel of Christ. Holding to His promise of eternal life.
1. A Cross Centered life never is ashamed of His Gospel, for which He suffers,
2. A Cross Centered Life is never ashamed of the name he bears (Christian)
3. Nor of the punishment he endures, but let US, as OUR Lord and Master did, endure the cross.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." John Piper"Alan Redpathhad two daughters who loved to swarm him when he came home at night. As he came in the door one evening, his little girls ran to meet him. One grabbed his leg and hugged him with all her might. He snatched the other daughter up in his arms. The one squeezing his leg said, "Now, I've got all of Daddy." The daughter in his arms replied, "Yes, but Daddy has got all of me!" Perhaps the question we need to continually ask is, "Does God have all of me?" Alan Redpath

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"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE") Gal 3:13. That's why as the great puritan once said "I preach as a dying man,to dying men. Richard Baxter...."